Kingston, Australian Capital Territory

Infobox Australian Place | type = suburb
name = Kingston
state = act
city = Canberra

---

caption =
lga = South Canberra
postcode = 2604
est = 1922
propval = $380,000 (2005) [http://allhomes.com.au/c/ah?a=uisu&i=433]
pop = 2145 (2001 census)
ACTgov = Molonglo
fedgov = Canberra
near-nw = Barton
near-n = Barton
near-ne = Fyshwick
near-e = Fyshwick
near-w = Forrest
near-sw = Griffith
near-s = Griffith
near-se = Fyshwick

Kingston (postcode: 2604) is an early inner-south suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Kingston is named after Charles Cameron Kingston, former Premier of South Australia and minister in the first Australian Commonwealth Government. Streets in Kingston are named after explorers.

History

In the early years of Canberra's development, Kingston was known as Eastlake. Part of Kingston was designated as an area for the workers who built Canberra. 120 portable wooden cottages for construction workers were built at the Causeway in 1925 and 1926. Canberra's first hall for community gatherings and entertainment was at the Causeway where the recreation hall was completed in 1926 with voluntary labour using materials provided by the Federal Capital Commission. After the second world war, housing at the Causeway and Westlake was considered sub-standard. Although Westlake was demolished the Causeway survives with the original temporary wooden cottages now replaced with brick veneer cottages. As it was separated from the rest of the suburb by Wentworth Avenue and was situated to the north of the railway station the Causeway was a distinct district within the suburb of Kingston, however, it is now abutted by the new Kingston foreshore development.

Current development

In recent years Kingston has been largely redeveloped with medium density housing including townhouses and units. The most recent development is the Kingston Foreshores development in which large numbers of high-value apartments are being built along the foreshores of Lake Burley Griffin. The area had previously been used for industrial purposes and is located between the Canberra railway station and the Kingston Powerhouse. These new developments and the rise of a café society have reformed Kingston as one of the most exclusive suburbs in Canberra.

uburb amenities

Kingston contains the Kingston Shopping Centre, one of the earliest shopping areas built in Canberra. Other places of note in Kingston include the Kingston Powerhouse opened in 1915 and the Canberra railway station. The Old Bus Depot Markets, showing handcrafted goods and foodstuffs, are held on the lakeside every Sunday and have become a regular destination for locals and tourists.

Kingston is also noted for a lively nightlife and bar scene.

Major Roads

The major road in Kingston is Wentworth Avenue which carries traffic through Kingston from the northwest to the southeast. Telopea Park East forms the northwest boundary of the suburb. Access to the shopping precinct is via Eyre Street or Giles Street.

Geology

Silurian age Canberra Formation, calcareous Shale is under this suburb, with Tertiary gravels over the top in the Causeway.

References

*Emerton, Val (1996). "Past Images, Present Voices - Kingston and Thereabouts Through a Box Brownie". Murrumbateman, NSW: Canberra Stories Group. ISBN 0-646-28549-1. [http://www.library.act.gov.au/actpl/kingstonbook.pdf]